Author: Susan Munkres Class: Sociology 210
Description: Susan Munkres' research paper assignment clearly highlights
how a long paper can be broken down into manageable steps to encourage
students to take the time to think, research, draft, and revise before
turning in their final drafts. Note also her clear discussion of research
questions and thesis statements.

Sequencing and Coaching the Research Paper
THE GOAL:

The Final Research Paper (10-12 pages) is an opportunity for you to make
an argument about a topic of your choice, based on and informed by scholarly
articles and/or books that relate to your topic.

To this end, your paper is actually about a research problem, and your
argument defends your answer to this research problem. Thus, the most
important part of your paper will be the thesis statement. This is a "thesis"
paper, similar to what you may have heard called an "argumentative
paper." That means your paper will be trying to convince your reader
of some main point or argument (the thesis). You will be using your paper
to demonstrate to readers that if they were as smart as you and had done
the research that you will have done, they would address this research
problem the same way as you do. They would agree with your thesis statement,
the position you are defending with your paper.

As examples, look at the following:

Problem: What are the consequences of individualism in the United
States?Thesis: Civil involvement is limited.

Problem: What accounts for the continuing existence of the underclass?
Thesis: While racism was the primary cause of the development of the underclass,
the continued oppression of black people owes more to class dynamics than
racial dynamics.

Problem: What are the dimensions in which class matters?Thesis: There are two dimensions of "class" in the contemporary
world: one is based on economic capital, and one is based on cultural
capital.

(These will sound more familiar as the course goes on!)

Constructing a Research Problem:
There are several ways to construct a research problem from the general
topic area that you have chosen. The research problem can usually be stated
as a question, as shown above. Decide which aspect of the topic most interests
you. Practice writing possible questions, which address various aspects.
Pick the one which seems most answerable and most interesting! Remember
that you are going to have to make an argument which answers this question
from the research that you do. Your research problem can be centered around
social phenomena ("How has the role of housewife changed in the last
30 years?") or policies ("Should gender segregation be eliminated
in elementary schools?"). In either case, you will take a stand on
this question in your thesis statement.

Your Thesis Statement:
Keep in mind that your thesis statement should reflect two things: both
your real, actual opinion, and your research. These two are related; your
real, actual opinion should be developed from the research that you read.
The thesis statement is the motor of the paper; it drives the rest of
the paper. In other words, the rest of your paper is one big demonstration
of the truth of your thesis statement.

The Rest of the Paper:
Again, the main body of your paper will demonstrate and illustrate the
truth of your thesis statement by referring to outside sources, probably
including some of the articles you found for your Library Assignment.

STEPS ALONG THE WAY:

Topic Area Statement

Library Assignment

Writing Workshops
The writing workshops I've designed will help guide you through the process
of developing papers. They focus on the larger issues earlier in the semester,
and more specific editing/revising issues further on.

Date(s)

Topic

February 5

Research Problems

February 12 and 17

Research Process/Library Skills

February 12 and 19

Arguments

March 5

Peer Review

March 26

Transitions and Structure

April 2

Outlines

April 16

Citing and Quoting

Used with permission from
the University of Wisconsin Writing Across the Curriculum Website.
http://mendota.english.wisc.edu/~WAC/

This website created and maintained by
the Coe Writing Center. Copyright 2001.
Email Dr. Bob Marrs with any questions,
comments or suggestions.